[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43351-43352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21298]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[AAG/A Order No. 141-97]
Privacy Act of 1974; As Amended by The Computer Matching and
Privacy Protection Act of 1988
This notice is published in the Federal Register in accordance with
the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended by the Computer
Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (CMPPA) (5 U.S.C.
552a(e)(12)). The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS),
Department of Justice (the source agency), is participating in a
computer matching program with the Massachusetts Department of
Employment and Training (MA-DET) (the recipient agency). Matching
activities under this program will permit MA-DET to confirm the
immigration status of alien applicants for, or recipients of,
unemployment compensation benefits under the ``Systematic Alien
Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)'' program as required by the
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-603).
Section 121(c) of IRCA amended section 1137 of the Social Security
Act and other statutes to require agencies which administer the Federal
Benefits programs designated within IRCA to use the INS verification
system to determine eligibility. Accordingly, through the use of user
identification codes and passwords, authorized persons from these
agencies may electronically access the database of an INS system of
records entitled ``Alien Status Verification Index, Justice/INS-009.''
From its automated records system, MA-DET may enter electronically into
the INS database the alien registration number of the applicant or
recipient. This action will initiate a search of the INS database for a
corresponding alien registration number. Where such number is located,
MA-DET will receive electronically from the INS database the following
data upon which to determine eligibility: Alien registration number,
last name, first name, date of birth, country of birth, social security
number (if available), data of entry, immigration status data, and
employment eligibility data. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(p), MA-
DET will provide the alien applicant with 30 days notice and an
opportunity to contest any adverse finding before final action is taken
against that alien because of ineligible immigration status as
established through the computer match.
The original effective date of the matching programs was February
28, 1990, for which notice was published in the Federal Register on
January 29, 1990 (55 FR 2890). The program has continued to date under
the authority of a series of new approvals as required by the CMPPA.
The CMPPA provides that based upon approval by agency Data Integrity
Boards of a new computer matching agreement, computer matching
activities may be conducted for 18 months and, contingent upon specific
conditions, may be similarly extended by the Board for an additional
[[Page 43352]]
year without the necessity of a new agreement. The most recent one-year
extension for this program will expire on September 9, 1997. Therefore,
the Department's Data Integrity Board has approved a new agreement to
permit the continuation of the above-named computer matching program
for another 18-month period from the effective date (described below).
Matching activities under the new agreement will be effective 30
days after publication of this computer matching notice in the Federal
Register, or 40 days after a report concerning the computer matching
program has been transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget,
and transmitted to Congress along with a copy of the agreements,
whichever is later. The agreement (and matching activities) will
continue for a period of 18 months from the effective date--unless,
within 3 months prior to the expiration of the agreement, the Data
Integrity Board approves a one-year extension pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
552a(o)(2)(D).
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(A) and (r), the required
report is being provided to the Office of Management and Budget, and to
the Congress together with a copy of the agreement.
Inquiries may be addressed to Patricia E. Neely, Program Analyst,
Information Resources Management, Justice Management Division,
Information Management and Security Staff, Department of Justice,
Washington, DC 20530.
Dated: August 7, 1997.
Stephen R. Colgate,
Assistant Attorney General for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-21298 Filed 8-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M
